Advantage Good Agricultural Practices Manual

9.2 Bedding Use

Wet bedding can cause manure accumulation on livestock and poultry and act as an ideal environment for biological contamination.

This Good Agricultural Practice applies to:

All farms.

Examples of bedding: Straw, hay, sand, shredded paper, wood chips, wood shavings and sawdust.

What needs to be done

Maintain bedding to create an environment that does not promote?contamination of livestock and poultry by biological agents.

How to do it

Keep the housing area as dry as possible:

• Control barn temperature and humidity.
• Maintain proper ventilation to prevent condensation and promote drying.
• Repair water leaks (e.g. leaking water bowls, taps and building eaves).
• Replace bedding and manure as needed.
  

Avoid using mouldy bedding, as moulds can be a source of mycotoxins.

Do not use sawdust or shavings derived from treated wood.

If you need an audit

Be prepared for the auditor to review:

• Vendor assurance that purchased bedding is free from treated wood product

Proceed to 9.3 Milking Practices